The first thing I do is attempt to deal with the enemies moving about in the forest. As I try to control the trees and bushes with my Wood Manipulation I instantly find that there's no response, for the first time I've encountered something under my element that I can't control. But our opponents don't know what's going through my head and take advantage of my momentary shock to strike my body. But between the natural durability I have and my passive healing from the air and the darkness, the attacks don't amount to much.
This opportunity of theirs doesn't last more than a few seconds as I swing my body around, knocking them away. Turning my attention to the group fighting with Lia and Wanjing behind me, I release a Flame Breath, sweeping across the field to make a full rotation, even hitting those I swept back into the forest.
Just as Wanjing had mentioned, the vegetation shows no sign of being affected by the flames, though they do manage to catch on fire. This doesn't last long as the flames are quickly extinguished from the treetops, but the people don't have this luxury and quickly ditch the armours that caught on fire. I managed to deal with a good portion of the guards here with that attack, but these guys are a bit more durable than I thought they'd be.
Although they don't pose much of a threat, their numbers never seem to truly fall, despite having killed quite a few people so far. As expected, they were never really trying to beat us here and they were just stalling for time. Two figures walkout from the edge of the forest and the feeling they give me is that they're more dangerous than this rabble. The uniform they wear is similar to the others we were fighting, but theirs seem to be heavier and more geared for direct combat. One man and one woman, their features are very similar making it difficult to tell the two apart from their face alone, even sporting the same hairstyle of medium length straight black and white hair. Swaying around behind each of them is a striped black and white tail, much like their hair. If not for the tight uniform accenting the woman's curves, I probably wouldn't be able to tell the two apart.
"General Cheng Hui and General Cheng Lanfen, you've finally arrived!" one of the guards yell out.
"Apologies for our late arrival, we didn't expect that the intruders would be so imposing so we didn't move straight away," says Cheng Hui.
"Brother, what manner of creature is this? It seems to resemble the Dragons of legend."
"I do not know, Sister, but true Dragons have been dead for ages," says Cheng Hui.
These two actually dare to hold a casual conversation, but taking a look at their status, they probably feel they can. These two are tiger beastfolk, and not just any normal ones either, if what I'm thinking is correct they are the probably a lot more dangerous than what I can visibly see. But I don't intend to let them arrogantly keep going like this.
Unwilling to let their conversation continue, I bombard them with my three-pronged Shrapnel Breath, but the sister move in front and I then feel space fluctuate as a large shield appears in one of her hands and a massive war hammer in the other. With her shield she blocks and deflects all the metal shards coming their way and as the attack dissipates I find the siblings remain completely unharmed.
I should have expected, these are both high levelled special tier classes, I won't be that easy. Compared to those Legendary Masters we fought in Lausiel, they would be nothing more than ants to these two.
"I think we should run," Aurelia says.
"I actually agree with your idea for once," I say.
"Just keep them distracted for a little bit longer and I can give as a window to escape," Aurelia says as she begins to gather her strength.
"Wait, run to the tomb instead," Lia calmly says.
The rest of giving her a look saying that she's crazy, but Lia continues, "just listen to it, I can't explain it, but the tomb will protect us once we enter. I have this strange sensation that is telling me that I have to enter the tomb no matter what and that we will be safe inside."
"There isn't any time to think about it, just get ready for us to rush into the forest! I got really good at making my Big Metal Dragons so I can keep everyone here distracted for a little while, watch this!"
In a matter of seconds, I spit out various metal parts and assembled them into three Big Metal Dragons MK I, II, and III.
"Sister, it seems like they've come up with a plan, shall we continue to play for a little longer?"
"Yes, that sounds like fun."
They clearly don't take us seriously and even ignore my large size, but their attitude gives us the opportunity we need. Rather than fighting us, the sibling duo run straight up to the Big Metal Dragons and engage them in combat.
While I focus my efforts on controlling the Big Metal Dragons and while Lia and Wanjing are dealing with the small fry behind us, Aurelia focuses all her energy on a single point as she yells, "Cordelia, shrink down so a little and let us all on quick, it's time to go!"
Not wasting any time in this situation, I make another sweep with my Flame Breath to give the others some space as the rush on to my back. Aurelia follows up by releasing the power she had been gathering, causing a large gust of wind to throw all the common soldiers a good distance away.
"Do you explosion thing! While we have the chance!" Aurelia yells.
She doesn't need to explain it for me to know what to do next, I recall Big Metal Dragons back to my side, but not before I launch one final attack to push the sibling duo back. I quickly repurpose them to a makeshift rocket and strap them to my back. Having gained plenty of experience in this field, I change to air competitions within and light the flame, launching us straight past the siblings and into the forest.
***Outside the Forest***
"Good, keep running, prey that doesn't run is no fun after all," Cheng Lanfen says.
"You are correct, my sister, it wouldn't be any fun if we didn't have to give chase, let's go."